Our Board

KATHY JEAN HRYWNAK, SECRETARYKathy Jean brings years of experience working with people with special needs. She and friends founded Sammy’s Place in 2006, through which she continued to serve individual families. Already a willing learner and compassionate person, she has learned to use those innate abilities even more skillfully in her years of doing the work which she is thrilled to be doing. After working with the Chick family, she and Julie realized that they could expand the mission of Sammy’s Place to include a larger community which will meet even more people’s needs. Committed to bringing the vision to fruition, Kathy Jean is excited by the challenge and eagerly anticipating the chapters to come.kathyjeaninoregon@hotmail.com

JULIE CHICK, PRESIDENTJulie lives in Nehalem with her husband Phil and boys Blake and Noah. Blake has Down syndrome which has never stopped him or the family to explore the wonders of the north Oregon coast – or other amazing places. Her passion is the outdoors and recreation; combining this with 8 years of experience in the environmental education and outreach arena at a local Oregon coast non-profit offers motivation to get the special needs community integrated with the local farming and outdoor community through the Sammy’s Place’s vision.chickj@charter.net

VICKI CHASE, TREASURERVicki is a true homegrown Oregonian. After graduating from David Douglas HS she began her career at Standard Insurance Co. where she worked in investments, earned a B.S. in Business from Portland State University with a 12 year-old at home and eventually retired as Vice President. Now she lives on the north coast of Oregon with her husband, Brian, 3 dogs, and her two grandchildren close by. She and Brian travel internationally when it is not salmon fishing season. They are both very involved grand parents and understand the importance of caring for a child with special needs and looking out for the future.bvchase@nehalemtel.net

VICE PRESIDENT: OPEN

ADVISORS

LYNDA CHICKLynda Chick is a Chicago transplant and came to the North Coast of Oregon to take an active part in her nephews’ lives. Her professional background is as a Registered Nurse and Homeopath. In addition to her experience in health care, she brings to Sammy’s Place a deep love and respect for nature and her training in garden and permaculture design. She looks forward with enthusiasm to helping to build Sammy’s Place and create opportunities for all who live and work there to learn, grow and thrive on the beautiful North Coast of Oregon.lynda.chick@gmail.com